Fuel-feeding system for internal-combustion engines



H. VAN DEVENTER FUEL FEEDING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUS'ION ENGINES oct. 1 8, 1927.-

-Fiied Maron 1927 2 sheezssheet 1 fl RWs/1m Wmv -l 9 Wma wmf

- l 18 927 H. V'A'N DEVENTER FUEL FEEDIHG SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Maron 5,* 1927 gwvemtoz fill.

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.Y

UNiTEosrATrS A*PMP-1NT 0FFlCll= i i' HORACE ver DEVrNrEa 0F KNOXVILLE. TENNESSEE- FUEL-FEJDIITG'r SYSTEM FQB INTERNALTCOMBUSTION' Y Application filed March 3, 19,27. Serial N0'. 1.725360'.

ternal combustion engine `for thedevelop` ment of power. It has likewise been proposed to introduce powdered fuel of such typey into the combustion chamber of a compression engine of, for example, the Diesel type, wherein it is vthen ignited by high com-' pression of air.

In contradistinction from such devices, the present invention proposes to create a ,uniform and-homogeneous suspension of finely pulverized coal dust in air for combustion,

and to deliver 'this suspension to the operating` cylinders of a gas engine under such conditions thatrthe mixture may be caused to explode byA ignition from the ordinary type of spark plug, and in particular proposes a system `by which such powdered fuel may be employedl as -a substitutefor the usualliquid fuel in its ordinaryv carbureted` employment in such engines.

`coal is well adapted for such employment, and that under certain specified conditions its vaction maybe favorably influenced to obtain high efficiencies.

lnaddition te the general object of em- )lo infr such sus ended o wder fuels means Y e a are provided whereby the greater efficiency is obtained withinthe engine'by the employment of a cooled mixture, which is 'in contradistinction to the usual heated mixture necessitated in the use of liquid fuels.

:In the drawings;

Figure l is a side elevation often internal combustion engine witha fuel feeding system of the presentV type applied thereto, Aparts of said system being in section for distinctness of disclosure.

Fig. Q is a section substantially online 2--2 of Fig. l. l

Fig. Sis a sectionsubstantially on line -3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. @l is a side elevation similarto- Fig, l of'amodified form ofthe invention.- Fig. is a detail view of the control valve slide represented in Fig. 4.

lt has been found that finely powdered' This invention is particularly 4applicable to the use ofcoal as a. fuel for internalcombustion engines Y ofV automobiles, airplanes andthe like, as asubstitute forv gasoline or other liquidY fuel:A and means are provided to eflecta constant flow ofcoal powdertoa stream of current kofalr, whereby a suspension of such coalpowder: in air. ina quasigaseous state is delivered `tothe intake riianifold and thence to the cylinders. ofi vtherein;-

gine,either by suction orby a forcedY air 'eure rent.;v this mixture or suspension thenwbeing ignitedY inthe usual manner by meansfof spark plugs. Means are provided/to. keep the'coal powderr and the air current carrying'it at a'low temperature and, if necessary, to reduce the temperature during the progress of the mixture from the coaldust container to the engine: which in particular' coniprises the employment of another air current about the fuel delivery pipe' and finish-mixing chamber, in a forced `circulation by a. mechanically driven fan,

It has been found that one of the pro rties of coal powder, particularly :frombituminous coal, is that it mixes `with or inipregnates` air more freely and. thoroughly and is better and more uniformly distributed. in a cloud-like form therein when the coal powder and the air carryingA it are chilled or cooled. This particular property makes coal powder especially valuable for the cold weather operation 'of automobiles and fory the ep'erationofairplanesat altitudes where the cold is so great that many fuels fail to volatilize, mix or explode. Furthermore, this cooling of. the coalpowder and the air before explosionfpermitsithe de- V y sented as cylinders which are governed scustomary by appropriate valves. This internal combustion engine y1s providedy ywith the usual accessories and operates a mal-n shaft in theusualmanner which need not be more clearly `shown or described. The valve gearing and elements are likewise of any customary type. f i i The fuel hopper for the powdered coal is located in the illustration at the rear end of the engine and above its cylinder block. An endless screw 16 is located in a U-shaped trough which is open at its top to the hopper 15, and is preferably formed with its walls integral with the walls of the hopper, the inclined lower walls 15, 15D and 15c being directed at an angle inwardlyand forwardly to the `point of junction with the trough ,'walls. The rotation of this endless screw 16 is'employed to keep Vthe fuel in a. continuous state vof agitation so that packingor lump-V Y -ing 4is prevented,`and to feed it forward toa position above the discharge openingV 17 in the lbottom ofthe trough. This opening 17 communicates witha fuel pipe 19, so that 'the coal powder which flows through the Aaperture 17 falls into thepipe 19. Located in a slide channel formed between the lower wallsV of the U-shaped trough and the guide flanges 18 is the slide 20 which has therein `a. V-shaped notch2()a (Fig. 3) for the purpose of uncovering the alined aperture 17 `and thepipe opening to la greater or lesser extent accordingto its prevailing position.

This slide plate 2O may be moved to such a position of regulation by means of the rod 21 which passes to the exterior of the casing U iBeneath .the inclined bottom 15b of the hopper'is located a floor 22 which has the 'protecting end walls 22a*l at the ends in pro` longation of the hopper walls. Mounted on thisfloor is an electric motor 23 having at one end af blower or air compressor 24 which is connected to an eillux pipe 25 as described hereinafter. At its other end the motor carries a sprocket 26 engaging with a driving chain 27whichfleads to the sprocket 28 on 'the shaft 29 ofthe worm 16. This shaft 29 passes through theend wall ofthe U-shaped` trough, and thereby serves as a journal for the worm, .which at its other end has a stub lshafti30 similarly passing through and jour- .naled inthe opposite end wall of the trough. The efflux pipe 25 leads to the interior of `a jacket pipe 31 which surrounds the fuel surrounding it. -from the fuel mixture pipe 19 through the mixture pipe 19 for the downward portion of its, run, and is closed with regard thereto to form a substantially air-tight chamber The side tap 32 leading casing 31 and open to the atmosphere at the outside thereof permits `the entry 'into the fuel mixture pipe 19 of a cool atmospheric 'air which is regulated'by the butterfly valve i AThe' fuel mixture pipe 19 after a short downward run is bent into an S-shaped coil ,with three successive horizontal runsA 19,

19br and 19c which are joined bysmoot-hly turned return bends at their ends, and nally passes into the interior of a -mixing casing 34 which is substantially closed to the atmosphere but is in communication with the common pipe 35 leading to the manifold 11, so that the fuel mixture may pass to the respective cylinders.

Surrounding the horizontal runs 19, 19h v as well as the casing 34 on all sides., The s jacket pipe 31 forms a Vclosed connection with thefupper. wall of the casing 36, `so that 4air from the blower A24 passes through the pipe 31 into the casing 36.

The casing 34 is preferably formed with a i closed jo1nt` at its bottom with regard to thecasing 436, for example,fby welding, `and a screw thread is formed immediately at the entry to the cavit of the casing` 34, into which a threaded p ug 37 may be screwed to:

close off the casingi 34 from the atmosphere. A st-irrup or gallows 38 is rigidly mounted on the plug 37 which serves to carry an easily rotating shaft 39 having a distrilout` ing paddle wheel or fan 40 therein.

Likewise providedin the front wall of the casing 39 are two apertures, one adjacent the bottom of the casing36 `andthe other adjacent its top for the escape `of the effluent air from the fan 24, the jacket pipe 31 and the casing 36. y

The method of operation of this device is as follows: a suitable quantity of powdered coal, preferably bituminous coal dust of very small size is placed within the hopper 15 and its cover 15x is closed. The motor 23 is started, whereby the endless screw 16 is caused to revolve and agitata this coal dust, while at the same time the blower 24 begins to force air through the eilluent ipe 25 and the jacket 31 andcasing 26, finally escaping through one of the openings 41 at the front `of the casing 36. `If the engine operator downward through the aperture 17 and the V-notch 20a of the plate 2O according to the adjusted position of the latter, and enter the fuel mixture pipe 19. 4In the course o1 the travel of the combined fuel" dust and i air through this pipe in its severalconvolutions, a substantially thorough mixture or suspension of coal dust and air is produced, which may be denominated quasi-gaseous owing to the thoroughness of the suspension l UU by .an electric spark plug and with the production ofra similar effect to that of a kdirect gaseous or vaporous fuel mixture, such as that of; gasoline in air;

The regulation of the systemis effect-ed by controlling the speed ofthe motor 23, the position of the sliding plate 20, and the position of the butteriiy valve' 33.

In the modified form of construction according to Figs, 4 and 5, the engine 10 is represented ashaving a crankshaft which vinsome usual and customary manner operates the valve or accessory shaft 12 which, for example, has the water circulating pump 13 mountedthereon, aswell as the driving belt pulleys and 51. The pulley 50` engages a driving belt 52 which'by means of further pulley 53 causes the rotation of a pressure 'fan 54 which serves to force a current of air into the open mouth of the funnel 55, and thence by the pipe 56 into thefront end of a casing 36 as in the structure according" to Fig. 1. The pulley 51 drives a belt v57 which by means of a pulley 58 secures the rotation of a. shaft 59 which l at its other end is provided with a handle 60 for manual operation at starting.

The elements contained within the casing 36 are substantially the same as those set forth in regard to Fig. 1, and ingeneral the former description applies throughout, ex'- cept for the internal construction of the fuel hopper.

The fuel hopper 60 in the present instance is provided with a bottom 61 which comprises a series of cups Whose inner surfaces form portions of spheres or similar figures of revolution, and are each provided adjacent the respective lowermost point with an apertureA 62 which is in alinement with a similar aperture 63-in a partition plate 64 which extends across the walls of the hopper 60 and defines aI lower compartment or preliminary mixing chamber 65` thereof. The lower wall 66 of this mixing chamber 65 vis inclined downwardly at such an angle that fuel will move therealong at any operating position of the automobile on a hill.

The shaft 59 passes through the walls of the hopper 60 and through the walls of the jacket "67 surrounding thesame, and on' the interior of the hopper carries a number of I fingers, 68 Whid@ in their length adapt' than for movement in close contact with the surfacesfof-the respective cups inthe hottOlIlV i wall 61 of the hopper. 60, as will be seen from Fig. 4.V

A slide 69 isprovided with a suitable numberk of apertures 70, corresponding to the number of cups inthe bottom wallfGl, each of a V-,shape and adapted to lie between the bottom wall 61 and the partition 64, whereby to regulate the-effective cross section of the apertures 62 and 63, according to the adjustment given to it by the forward'end 71 which may be provided with a suitable handle for this purpose. c

The powdered coal` in the hopper 60 is agitated by the fans 68 during rotation' of the shaft 59 andv delivers ycoal through the apertures 62, 63 according to the prevailingV position of the slide pla-te 69, s o that coal dust kfalls into the chamber 65 and therein is. brought into lContact with air which is v passing through the aperture 73 adjacent the upper end ofthe inclined bottom wall 66 of the chamber 65. This preliminary mixture passes through an aperture "74.4 at.V the bottom of the chamber 65v and through a slide plate 75 which has a V-shaped: regulating aperture of a nature similarto that indicated at 20l in Figs. 1 to 3, andv thereby passes in the mixedV form into the fuel mixture pipe 19, whence it moves to themanifoid 11 and intothe engine for explosion therein. y f

For the purpose of regulating the slide plate 7 5'is provided a! pedal 7 6 having a return spring 7 7 for actuatinga cranklever 78 pivoted tothe under side of the foot-board of the automobile and connected-by al link 79 with a second crank member 80 which operates uponthe 'slide plate, as will be clearly seen'in' Fig. 4. j

The method of operation of this device is as follows: The agitator lingers 68 are caused to operate by manual'means tobring a small quantity of coal powder into the the lowerqchamber 65. The engine is then started bya starting system or by a hand crank, whereby further movementis afforded to the fingers 68-and the fan 54 is caused to drive a blast of air into the funnel 55,and thence through the casing 36, thus cooling and maintaining the pipes 19,v 19, V19b and 19, and the casing 34 therein (as in Fig. 1) cool, so that no preliminary distillation `of the bituminous coal or other fuel will occur. This air passes upwardly in the pipe jacket 31 and through the odset 31a thereof into the space within the protecting jacket 67, since it passes upwardly and to an exhaust: or from which it may escaperthrough the opening 73 into the chamber 65 and there mingle withthe powdered coal tol form the fuel "mixture Veo section 19, 19 and 19e, and the casin V34 are positively protected by an air layer rom the radiant heat evolved from the engine: and furthermore that this air itself shall be maintained as cold as possible, sothat distillation is carefully avoided, and it has been found in practice that an engine may be so operated with even the highest volatile bituminous coal Without. caking or gassin Within the fuel mixture pipe or associate( parts. i Y y It is particularly apparent that the invention is not limitedsolely to the forms of executionwhich have been illustrated', but that'it may be modified in many Ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: t

l. The method of voperating an internal combustion prime mover which Acomprises suspending finely powdered coal in a current of air, cooling the fluid mixture, deliveringthe same into the combustion space of said prime mover in a homogeneous quasigaseous condition, and igniting the same by an electric spark. Y

2. The method of preparing a fuel mixture for an internalcombustion prime mover which comprises suspending linely powdered coal dust in a current of air and cooling the mixture.. i i

3. The method of preparing a fuel mixture for an internal combustion prime mover which comprises delivering. coal dust into a moving currentof air, causing the mixture to traverse a tortuous path while subjected to cooling and intimately mingling of the ,constituents of thev mixture;

- 4. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion prime mover, a fuel hopper for pulverized solid fuel, a valve to re ulate the discharge of the pulverized fuel rom said hopper, an air conduit, said hopper discharging through an aperture into a current of air` in said conduit, means to cool `said conduit and its contents, a mixing chamber connected to said conduit to intimately mingle the fuel dust and air whereby 'a' homogenous quasi-,gaseous suspension .is formed, and a conduit from said mixing chamber to the inlet of the prime mover.

In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines, a hopper to contain pulverized solid fuel, an endless screw in the bottom of said hopper to maintain said fuel from calting, an air cooling and heat insulating conduit, a blower to force air through said conduit, a motor and connections therefrom to actuate said blowerand said screw, a fuel mixture pipe to receive the mixed air and pulverized fuel and located Within said conduit, a mixing chamber communicating with said pipe, and a fuel delivery conduit from said` mixing chamber to the inlet'of` said engine. v I J6. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, a fuel mixture pipe having a tortuous path, said pipe having an air current therethroughlin.consequence of the suction of said engine, means to deliver pulverized solid fuel into said pipe, a spaced heat .insulating jacket surrounding said pipe, and means to deliver the mixture Vof fuel and air into the engine combustion space."

Y 7.l In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, a receptacle to contain pulverized `solid fuel, a discharge conduit connected with the bottom of said receptacle, means to maintain the fuel in agitation to prevent caking,l means to deliver an air `current through said conduit, `,and regulating means to govern the lcross-sectionfof passage vbetween said receptacle andsaid "conduit,

said` meansincluding a sliding plate having triangular aperturetherethrojngh to controlthe inlet to said conduit.

8. In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines, a receptacle'to contain pulverized solid fuel, said receptacle having a narrow trough-like bottom with a plurality of apertures therethrough, a partition beneath said receptacle to form a mixing space, a conduit to admit air into said mixing'space, a shaft passing through the said receptacle in spaced relationship to its bottom, and a plurality of agitating devices securedA to said shaft to maintain saidfuel against caking during the rotation of said shaft, and means connectedwith the engine to drive said shaft.

9. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, a receptacle to` contain pulverized solid fuel, said receptacle having a bottom comprising a plurality of cups of. i

the form of bodies of revolution, a shaft extending through said receptaele concentric with the surfaces of said cups, and agitatingV lingers connected to said shaft and located Within said cups, said cups each havingan aperture therethrough for the delivery of fuel from said receptacle. y

10. In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines, a receptacle to contain pulverized solid fuel, the bottom of said receptacle being formed with several individual cups each having `an` aperture through its,' bottom, a mixing chamber beneath said 'receptacle to receive the pulverized fuel passing `through said apertures,

a conduit leading from said mixing chamber tothe intake `of the engine, anair inlet conduit to said mixing chamber, a regulating valve to control the effective cross-section of said apertures, and a regulating valve to vcon- `trol'the effective cross-section of entry of the fuel mixture from said mixing chamber to said intake conduit.

. 11. In a fuel feeding systemfor an internal combustion engine, a receptacle for pulverized solid fuel, means including a mixing chamber and an air conduit thereto to mix the fuel frompsaid receptaclewith air,

a fuel mixture pipe to receive the mixture from said mixing chamber, said pipe having,

a tortuous path, and terminating in a conduit leading to the intake of the engine, a jacket surrounding said tortous path, an air fan driven from the engine, means whereby the air from said fan is caused to pass into and through said jacket, a further jacket surrounding said receptacle and mixing chamber and constituting part of said air inletfconduit to said mixing chamber, and means whereby the air from said first jacket passes to said second acket.

12. In a fuel feeding system for an inr ternal combustion engine, a receptacle to contain pulverized solid fuel, said receptacle having a bottom comprising several cups with upward concaved surfaces of revolution, a shaft passing concentric to said surfaces of revolution, agitating fingers on said shaft, each of said cups having a discharge aperture at its bottom, and a slide plate having triangular openings adapted to come beneath said apertures, and means to move said plate with regard to said cups whereby the effective cross-section of the said apertures is regulated b the position of said openings.

13. In a uel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, a receptacle to contain pulverized solid fuel, means to mix said fuel with air in predetermined quantities, a receiving chamber in the path of movement of said mixture from said mixing means to lthe intake of the engine, and means in said receiving chamber actuated by the ow of said mixture to further agitate said mixture inits said course. v

14. In a fuel 'feeding system for an internal combustion engine, a receptacle to contain pulverizedbituminous coal as a fuel,

means to mix said coal with air in predeter-i mined quantity and deliver the mixture of the intake of the engine, and a heat insulating jacket surrounding said receptacle and` said means whereby to maintain said fuel and mixture cool substantially until its entry into said engine.

15. In a fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine, means to mix pulverized solid fuel and air in predetermined quantities, a receiving chamber open at its bottom, into which the fuel mixture is admitted near the bottom, a conduit from the top of said receiving chamber to the intake of the engine, a plug closing said bottom opening of said receiving chamber, a gallows rigidly mounted on said plug to extend into said chamber, and a fan pivotally'mounted vin said gallows to further agitate said mixture in its passage through said receiving chamber.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature.

HORACE VAN DEVENTER. 

